American legislator vows state authorities will safeguard Nigerian Christians facing oppression

Riley Moore, a United States lawmaker, has expressed his support for the Nigerian Senate's decision to pass the Constitution Alteration Bill, which aims to establish state police, believing it will enable states to better safeguard their citizens, especially persecuted Christians.

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Moore, who represents West Virginia's 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, shared his thoughts on the matter in a post on his X handle on Wednesday, following the Senate's approval of the bill that seeks to decentralize policing.

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The proposed legislation would allow states to establish their own police services in addition to the Nigeria Police Force, a reform that Moore has publicly and privately advocated for, particularly in light of attacks against Christians in Nigeria.

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According to Moore, this law is crucial in empowering states to protect their citizens and reducing their dependence on decision-makers in Abuja, which is essential for defending persecuted Christians and addressing insecurity.

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Moore also praised President Bola Tinubu for backing the proposal, but noted that the amendment still requires the approval of at least two-thirds of the state Houses of Assembly to take effect.

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The U.S. lawmaker emphasized that President Tinubu deserves credit for pushing the proposal forward, but now it is imperative that two-thirds of the states ratify the amendment before it can be implemented.

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The Senate passed the Constitution Alteration Bill on Wednesday, with more than two-thirds of senators voting in support during a manual voting process, as reported by PUNCH Online.

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The proposed legislation seeks to establish a state policing framework that operates concurrently with the federal police system, granting governors the power to appoint Commissioners of Police for their respective states, subject to confirmation by their state Houses of Assembly.

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The bill includes safeguards against abuse, stipulating that state police cannot be deployed against individuals or groups solely for criticizing a state government, except in accordance with the law.

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The bill will only become part of the Constitution after securing the required approvals from state legislatures and completing other constitutional processes.